Former New Zealand all-rounder Scott Styris admitted he won’t surprised if Hardik Pandya leads India in T20I cricket in future. Pandya had recently revealed his captaincy aspirations when he was asked about taking the leadership role permanently.
The all-rounder has impressed as a leader as he took Gujarat Titans to glory in the IPL. Pandya had led from the front as he had scored 487 runs in 15 matches of the tournament.
Subsequently, the 28-year-old led the national team in the two-match T20Is series against Ireland, which India won by 2-0. Pandya once again got a chance to lead in the fifth T20I against West Indies after Rohit Sharma was rested. India won that game by a gargantuan margin of 88 runs and thus Pandya has a 3-0 record as Indian captain in the T20I format.
The all-rounder has shown that he has a cool head on his shoulders and he has learned a lot after playing under former Indian skippers MS Dhoni, Virat Kohli, and current captain Rohit Sharma.
“I wouldn’t be surprised maybe not for this tournament, but in the future that we do see Hardik Pandya leading this T20 team,” Styris told News 18.
“I think it’s an intriguing discussion because again, six months ago, I don’t think it’s something we all thought would even be talked about, but Hardik Pandya has made every poster winner. And you know, you see it a lot in football, where players of character and personality are often given the armband to be captain to also allow them to show some responsibility,” he added.
Styris reckons Hardik Pandya’s leadership style will be apt for the Indian team as they are looking to play an aggressive brand of cricket.
“So, I don’t mind this for Hardik Pandya to be given some leadership in this side, whether now be the vice-captain or in the future as a captain because quite rightly what is the direction this Indian team wants to go, whether it’s T20 in terms of its brand, how do they want to play the game? Because Hardik Pandya certainly has the personality of today’s player, where they want to go out and expand and show their skills and really just show off to everybody with how good they are.
“And I think that sort of leadership actually breeds itself and lends itself throughout the team to everybody playing with that style,” Styris added.
Pandya has amassed 834 runs in 67 T20I matches while he has scalped 50 wickets. The all-rounder will be in action in the Asia Cup and he will look to continue his good form. India will begin their campaign against Pakistan on 28th August at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai.
